Long Beach Marathon Returns Oct. 8-9
The Long Beach Marathon is one of the city’s most popular events, as well as one of its most varied, comprising so much of what makes the International City great: community, individual achievement, family, fun, volunteers, and yes, even beer. The Marathon, which is actually a series of race events, takes place October 8-9. Here’s the rundown.
MARATHON
Date: October 9, 2022
Start: 6 a.m.
Long Beach has always been known for being a fast, flat marathon course, one popular with runners looking to post personal bests and/or a qualifying time for the granddaddy of all marathons: Boston. This year’s course takes runners through Shoreline Village, past the Pacific on the beach path, through Belmont Shore and around Cal State Long Beach before heading back toward Shoreline Village to finish near Marina Green Park where they will be awarded a finishers medal, T-shirt and complementary cup of beer. Runners can pick up their race packets at the Race Expo on October 7, from 12-6 p.m., and October 8 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center, Hall C.
HALF MARATHON
Date: October 9, 2022
Start: 7:30 a.m.
It may be a half-marathon, but this race is pretty much all ocean, as the great majority affords runners spectacular oceanfront views. Starting on Shoreline Drive, they will pass The Pike Outlets, head over the Queensway Bridge, and eventually to the bow of the Queen Mary. After that, they’ll circle back around the Aquarium and Lighthouse at Rainbow Harbor before hitting the beach path and eventually finish running downhill–and fast–on the bluffs above the ocean, where they will be awarded a finishers medal, T-shirt and complementary cup of beer.. Runners can pick up their race packets at the Race Expo on Oct. 7, from 12-6 p.m., and Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Hall C.
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC 5K
Date: October 8, 2022
Start: 7 a.m.
The Swiss army knife of the weekend, the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K can be walked or run, raced for time, done as a fun activity with friends and family, or used as a pre-marathon/half marathon “shakeout” race. The 5K starts and finishes in front of the Aquarium, which is convenient since participants get early access (9-10 a.m.) to the Aquarium on race day for the discounted rate of $20. Runners can pick up their race packets at the Race Expo on October 7, 12-6 p.m. or October 8, 5:30-6:45 a.m. at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Hall C.
Parking for the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K is available in the Aquarium’s parking lots (100 Aquarium Way) or across the street at the Pike Outlets Parking Garage (65 Cedar Ave).
BIKE TOUR
Date: October 9, 2022
Start: 6 a.m.
The 20-mile, untimed, family-friendly Bike Tour provides avid and casual cyclists the chance to pedal a beautiful tour of the city. Cyclists will start at the same time as marathoners, at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Linden Avenue, and finishers will be awarded a Long Beach-themed medal, T-shirt and complementary cup of beer. Acceptable bikes include mountain, road, ten speeds, beach cruisers, tandem and BMX. Electronic or motorized bikes, as well as scooters, are prohibited. Cyclists can pick up their packets October 7, 12-6 p.m. or October 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Race Expo at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Hall C.
DROPOFF/PARKING
If you’ll be dropping someone off before finding parking, it’s highly recommended that you do it near the intersection Ocean Boulevard and Linden Avenue, roughly around 448 E Ocean Blvd. From there, runners can simply walk down Linden, cut through the Long Beach Arena parking lot, to get to Marina Green and the starting line on East Shoreline Drive.
For parking, three lots are recommended.
Long Beach Convention Center (300 E Ocean Blvd): The Convention Center lot is available on a first-come, first-served basis on race day and can be accessed on Pine Avenue.
Pike Outlets parking garage (65 Cedar Ave): You can pre-purchase parking passes for this lot at the Race Expo. The lot can be accessed via Chestnut Place.
Mosaic–formerly City Place Shopping Center–(151 E 5th St): You can pre-purchase parking passes for this lot as well at the Race Expo. You can access the lot at Sixth Street.
RACE EXPO
Date: October 7 (12-6p.m.) AND October 8 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Though this will be the destination for all runners/walkers/cyclists to pick up their race packets, it also is free and open to the public. The Expo, which is located at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Hall C, allows visitors to shop the event’s merchandise stores, visit local vendors and to check out the latest in the active lifestyle space.
VOLUNTEERING
The marathon has a long tradition of enthusiastic volunteers who are absolutely critical to the operation of events. Race organizers are looking to individuals, clubs and associations to make up the 2,000-plus volunteer team necessary to run things. Volunteers will receive a Race Team T-shirt, special volunteer parking, lunch, credit for community service hours, as well as detailed training before the shift starts.